I haven't really decide what I want to do when I grow up. I've created a very long list, but I'm not exactly sure which career I'll try first. Right now I am leaning toward designing railroads.

After a full day of teaching, I return home to help with third grade homework, which there is quite a bit of, but I do enjoy the new things- or even the old things I am covering; I make dinner, do grown-up household chores, this is my least favorite part of being a grown-up, and then I build railroad tracks.

Luci and I haul out all the Thomas track (the Track-master plastic pieces, not the wooden ones), the trains, and the Legos. Between birthdays and Christmas, he has amassed all kinds of track (curved, bumpy, short pieces, and switches) and the medium sized Legos. I will confess to also asking Santa for track!

No railroad design can be repeated. We build the tracks in different places in the house, going around and under furniture, and into other rooms. We use the Legos to build different levels to support tracks going over other sections of track, to build houses, and even to build long, dark tunnels. Legos are awesome!

We make sure that the train can ride on each section of track and move in any direction; this is when the placement of the various switches becomes really important.

Sometimes we will run multiple trains on the tracks at the same time. Then we run around adjusting switches so we don't have major collisions. Although there are days where we are trying to have collisions, run trains off unfinished bridges, or shoot trains off the tracks with assorted Nerf guns. And of course, sometimes the great beasties come and try to steal a train car right off the track; those dogs do like to chew on toys!

There are nights that Frankie, Luci and I will spend hours building these tracks. Then we take short videos of our trains in action and send those off to grandparents or dad, since he's at work.

I have to say, I am getting pretty good at this! I have designed some very intricate railroads. Of course, there doesn't seem to be much of a future for railroad expansion; perhaps the day will come when we have some kind of space train or tram that will rely on a rail system. Hmmm, if not trains, maybe roller coasters! I'm adding that to my list right now!

I love to sleep. I love to sleep late nestled in fluffy comforters, soft blankets, piles of squishy pillows where I am warm and the air is cold. It is not easy to get up with the alarm at five in the morning. Actually, it is rarely easy to get up in the morning anytime before nine.

But I get up anyway, or at least try to, on most mornings. I do this for Buddy. Someone must have walked him every day, before he was surrendered to the shelter, before he came to our house. He likes to walk and watch for every little movement. He likes to stop at every single tree, and I've only recently realized just how many trees are in my neighborhood. Buddy is sweet, and I love him already, so I'm doing my part to help him understand the rules of the house and avoid accidents that I will have to clean up.

I turn off the alarm, slide out of bed noiselessly to avoid waking anyone, and pull on jeans and a sweater. Buddy is already dancing on his back legs, cheering me on, "Let's go! Hurry, Mom, No time to waste!" I give no thought as to what I look like. Downstairs, I pull my tennis shoes on without untying them; button up my heavy woolen pea coat; slip a bag, my phone and house keys into my pocket; and grab the leash from the hook. Buddy springs up and down, higher and higher, while I unlock and unbolt the doors. We slip outside; the only noise is the retractable leash zipping out and rattling back in.

It is brisk, and I pull the collar of my coat up. We head to the corner and cross the street. We will walk around the school and the park at least once, sometimes twice. Out of all these mornings, which are not consistent, we have seen one other dog walker, one runner, and someone walking home from the El- a police officer I assumed by the hour, the dark pants, and the tired gait of someone ready to sleep. Buddy stays alert for squirrels, rabbits, and people. It is nice to be out alone and feel safe; the neighborhood is full of firefighters and police officers.

As we walk, houses start to come alive, windows light up one at a time, here and there. I have come to love these morning walks. It is so quiet, except for Buddy's leash and the occasional scuttle of leaves across the sidewalk. The trees are losing their leaves but they are not yet bare. While we stop at every tree, I look up into the leaves, illuminated in the soft glow of the streetlights. It is so beautiful, so peaceful, so incredibly still.

Buddy tries to pretend our walk isn't over as he walks past our gate to the house, but he quickly turns around, like a fish on a line, reeled in on his leash. We enter the house as quietly as we left. There are no lights on, the house, my husband and the kids, and even Billy- who would rather sleep than walk, are still dreaming, still snuggled down in the covers. I turn the lights on and start the coffee. It's back to the morning race, but there is a delightful calmness enveloping me. I telegraph a thank you to Buddy.

It's time to make your choices known! After reviewing the presentation in class, you need to select the next novel to read; Frankenstein by Mary Shelly or Dracula by Bram Stoker. Reading of this novel will be done independently with reading responses, a project, and possibly an essay focused on components that are common to both novels. NOTE: Dracula is longer than Frankenstein, but required assignments will even out the time commitment. After we finish this novel, we will read one as a whole group again, like we did with Fahrenheit 451.

If you do not reply with your choice by Friday, 10-12, I will select a novel for you.

I've always had a soft spot for animals. I tried to to get my mom to let me take in all kinds of pets. She was far more resolute with saying no than I am. My kids have identified this quickly. This past weekend we adopted a dog from Wright Way Rescue. Billy is a shelter dog, and he was perfect. My husband wan't opposed to another dog, but he wasn't pushing for it either. If I could find another dog who was housebroken, didn't chew, was good with the kids, didn't shed too much, and was an acceptable choice to Billy (we didn't want him to feel pushed aside) then by all means I could have another. Mission accomplished! Meet Buddy! He is such a sweet dog. Billy went with us when we went to meet him; he approved- not whole heartedly but there were no protests. Buddy, who went by the name Guy until he came home with us, is a Shitzu Terrier mix. He was everything on the list and more. He is a snuggler and loves to go for walks- too many for Billy's likes. He was a perfect addition to our house. We are now a family of two kids, two dogs, three fish, and a praying mantis; I'm not including the crickets in that tally since they are pretty much just a food source for Millie the mantis. It's a happy, crazy house! My husband loves the new little guy, but all the same, I'm not supposed to go to a shelter again, but there is always the pet store....